Driving to Michelle’s apartment I didn’t know what to expect. Our “girl’s nights” ranged from full on partying to mini-counseling sessions. I was in a particularly good mood at that moment so I hoped I could let out that happy energy with a night out with the girls.
After I arrived at t he complex, I parked the car, walked upstairs, and knocked on the door, “Hello?”
Slowly creeping in Michelle’s cute apartment I noticed, to my surprise that all the lights were turned off.
“Michelle?” I surveyed once more. “Is anyone here?”
I pressed my hands onto the wall searching for the light switch. When I found it and turned it on I heard a huge, “SURPRISE!!”
Just then about ten of my closest girlfriends jumped up out of their hiding places and hollered. Michelle came up to me shouting excitedly, “Happy birthday!”
My birthday. I had totally forgotten! I had never forgotten my own birthday before then. I was flabbergasted!
“Man, thanks so much you guys! This is crazy nice of you to do this for me!” I gave each and every one of the girls a hug: Monique, Natasha, Susan, Liz, Hali, Katherine, Jennifer, Heather, and Pennie. “You all are so amazing,” I continued. “Thanks for remembering.”
“Unlike you!” Susan joked.
We all migrated towards the snack food and started our fun girl chatter. It was no surprise the first question they asked me was about Justin.
“So Mandie,” Heather started. “We all want to know…has he popped the question yet?!”
There was immediate giggles and smiles of excitement and curiosity coming from everyone, even some slipping from myself. With a sad smile I had to answer truthfully, “No, not yet.”
Sighs of disappointment came from all ten of them, and I have to say I was completely feeling the same way.
Michelle decided to question me, “Well, how long have you two been together?”
“Three years,” I responded, grabbing a chip and shoving it in my mouth.
“He’s bound to ask you any day now,” Liz stated simply. “It’s the end of your senior year at college, you’re both 22 years old, it’s the perfect time! AND it’s your birthday!”
A thought quickly popped into my head, “Gosh girls, I just remembered, I can’t stay all night. I have a date with him tonight somewhere. It’s a surprise. I’m so sorry!”
“Don’t worry we all know” Katherine told me. “We called him to make sure if he had plans with you already.”
“We were going to invite him too, but he told us about his plans,” Monique piped in.
“Plus,” Katherine continued, “It would totally ruin the definition of our ‘Girls’ Night’”
The girls chuckled in agreement and I quickly got excited, “Do you think he’s going to do it tonight?”
“Probably,” Michelle said while getting a soda out of the refrigerator. “He’d be an idiot if he didn’t take his chance tonight.”
I let out a sigh and thought to myself, I hope you’re right.
The rest of the short night consisted of mainly girl chatter and gossip. Who’s cheating on who, who isn’t going to graduate, and oh, can you believe she did that with him? The girls gave me their gifts, some apologizing for having to bring theirs another time, and I thank them all at once. Unfortunately, it was time for me to leave and follow my mini-map to get to my mystery destination.
Natasha gave me a hug and told me, “Good luck with tonight. I want to be one of the first to know!”
“No you’re supposed to set ME know first!” Michelle exclaimed in protest.
There was a slight outburst from the rest of the girls arguing on who would be granted the honor of hearing the news first, and I had to kind of shout to get them to settle down, “Girls! Stop! I need to find out if there IS going to be any news tonight first!”
They calmed down. I said my final goodbyes and shut the door. At once I started to get nervous about tonight. Every step down the staircase created new and more butterflies in my stomach. I wouldn’t have even thought about Justin proposing if it hadn’t been for the party, we had been together for so long. I can still remember the day I first met him, he was so cute and goofy, I always acted like a freak because I grew nervous at first. Thank goodness that slowly went away as time went on and we started dating. Three years, man, I thought to myself, I never thought that this could last for three whole years.
Getting into my car and closing the door, I grabbed my tiny map and laughed to myself. The directions started from Michelle’s apartment. He knew I was going to be there.
I pressed my hands onto the wall
I hope my critic helps!!! 
